Gary is the Chief Executive Officer at Caritas Family Solutions, where he has been since 2005. Caritas, headquartered in Belleville, is a not-for-profit social service agency serving the southernmost 52 counties in Illinois through 17 service locations. Services provided include adoption, counseling, foster care, residential therapy for severely abused and neglected children, independent living for developmentally disabled adults, assisted living and employment training for low-income seniors, homeless shelter for pregnant woman and various other programs. The largest program is foster care with more than 2,600 children served annually. Caritas has experienced significant growth responding to the needs of the vulnerable over that past 15 years and ranks very high in performance of its state contracts. The agency has more than 500 employees and over 1,100 foster homes. In fiscal year 2022 Caritas served over 6,000 clients. Caritas Family Solutions is a proud member of the United Way of Greater St. Louis and a member of Illinois Collaboration on Youth and participates in many other collaborations.
Gary Huelsmann has more than 37 years of experience in the social service and behavioral health fields. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Social Work from University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota, and a master’s degree in Social Work from St. Louis University in St. Louis Missouri. Most recently he earned a Certificate in Business Management for Non-Profit Leaders from Washington University. Gary also serves on several boards and committees at the local, state, and national level and is currently the chairperson for Illinois Collaboration on Youth (ICOY). He joined the Heartlands Conservancy board in the fall of 2019.Originally from Clinton County, Gary now resides in Alton, IL, with his wife.
Caritas Family Solutions | Gary Huelsmann, MSW CEO | March 30, 2023
